scholarly journals Management of Gene Promoter Mutations in Molecular Diagnostics

2009 ◽  
Vol 55 (4) ◽  
pp. 698-708 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen M K de Vooght ◽  
Richard van Wijk ◽  
Wouter W van Solinge

Abstract Background: Although promoter mutations are known to cause functionally important consequences for gene expression, promoter analysis is not a regular part of DNA diagnostics. Content: This review covers different important aspects of promoter mutation analysis and includes a proposed model procedure for studying promoter mutations. Characterization of a promoter sequence variation includes a comprehensive study of the literature and databases of human mutations and transcription factors. Phylogenetic footprinting is also used to evaluate the putative importance of the promoter region of interest. This in silico analysis is, in general, followed by in vitro functional assays, of which transient and stable transfection assays are considered the gold-standard methods. Electrophoretic mobility shift and supershift assays are used to identify trans-acting proteins that putatively interact with the promoter region of interest. Finally, chromatin immunoprecipitation assays are essential to confirm in vivo binding of these proteins to the promoter. Summary: Although promoter mutation analysis is complex, often laborious, and difficult to perform, it is an essential part of the diagnosis of disease-causing promoter mutations and improves our understanding of the role of transcriptional regulation in human disease. We recommend that routine laboratories and research groups specialized in gene promoter research cooperate to expand general knowledge and diagnosis of gene-promoter defects.

2005 ◽  
Vol 79 (1) ◽  
pp. 28-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
John M. Casper ◽  
Jennifer M. Timpe ◽  
John David Dignam ◽  
James P. Trempe

ABSTRACT Adeno-associated virus (AAV) and other parvoviruses inhibit proliferation of nonpermissive cells. The mechanism of this inhibition is not thoroughly understood. To learn how AAV interacts with host cells, we investigated AAV's interaction with adenovirus (Ad), AAV's most efficient helper virus. Coinfection with Ad and AAV results in an AAV-mediated inhibition of Ad5 gene expression and replication. The AAV replication proteins (Rep) activate and repress gene expression from AAV and heterologous transcription promoters. To investigate the role of Rep proteins in the suppression of Ad propagation, we performed chromatin immunoprecipitation analyses that demonstrated in vivo AAV Rep protein interaction with the Ad E2a gene promoter. In vitro binding of purified AAV Rep68 protein to the Ad E2a promoter was characterized by electrophoretic mobility shift assays (Kd = 200 ± 25 nM). A 38 bp, Rep68-protected region (5′-TAAGAGTCAGCGCGCAGTATTTACTGAAGAGAGCCT-3′) was identified by DNase I footprint analysis. The 38-bp protected region contains the weak E2a TATA box, sequence elements that resemble the Rep binding sites identified by random sequence oligonucleotide selection, and the transcription start site. These results suggest that Rep binding to the E2a promoter contributes to the inhibition of E2a gene expression from the Ad E2a promoter and may affect Ad replication.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xicen Zhang ◽  
Mei Ding ◽  
Yi Liu ◽  
Yongping Liu ◽  
Jiaxin Xing ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: In previous studies, we researched the association of the DRD2 gene promoter region SNP loci rs7116768, rs1047479195, rs1799732, rs1799978 and schizophrenia using Sanger sequencing. rs7116768 and rs1799978 were found to be slightly associated with schizophrenia. This study investigated the effects of haplotypes consisted of the four SNPs on protein expression level in vitro and identified the functional sequence in the 5’ regulatory region of DRD2 gene which has a potential link with schizophrenia.Methods: Recombinant plasmids with haplotypes, SNPs and 13 recombinant vectors containing deletion fragments from the DRD2 gene 5' regulatory region were transfected into HEK293 and SK-N-SH cell lines. Relative luciferase activity of the haplotypes, SNPs and different sequences was compared using a dual luciferase reporter assay system.Results: Haplotype H4(G-C-InsC-G) could significantly increase the gene expression in SK-N-SH cell lines. Allele C of rs7116768, allele A of rs1047479195 and allele del C of rs1799732 could up-regulate the gene expression. There were 5~7 functional regions in the promoter region of DRD2 gene that could affect the level of gene expression.Conclusion: We cannot rule out the possibility that different haplotypes may influence DRD2 gene expression in vivo. We observed that allele C of rs7116768, allele A of rs1047479195 and allele del C of rs1799732 could up-regulate gene expression. The truncation results confirmed the existence of functional regions in the promoter region of DRD2 gene that could affect the level of gene expression.


2004 ◽  
Vol 18 (7) ◽  
pp. 1740-1755 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leo Tsz-On Lee ◽  
Kian-Cheng Tan-Un ◽  
Ronald Ting-Kai Pang ◽  
David Tai-Wai Lam ◽  
Billy Kwok-Chong Chow

Abstract To unravel the mechanisms that regulate the human secretin gene expression, in this study, we have used secretin-expressing (HuTu-80 cells, human duodenal adenocarcinoma) and non-secretin-expressing [PANC-1 (human pancreatic ductile carcinoma) and HepG2 (human hepatocellular carcinoma) cells] cell models for in vitro and in vivo analyses. By transient transfection assays, within the promoter region (−11 to −341 from ATG, relative to the ATG initiation codon), we have initially identified several functional motifs including an E-box and 2 GC-boxes. Results from gel mobility shift and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays confirmed further that NeuroD, E2A, Sp1, and Sp3 bind to these E- and GC-boxes in HuTu-80 cells in vitro and in vivo, whereas only high levels of Sp3 is observed to bind the promoter in HepG2 cells. In addition, overexpression of Sp3 resulted in a dose-dependent repression of the Sp1-mediated transactivation. Collectively, these data suggest that the Sp1/Sp3 ratio is instrumental to controlling secretin gene expression in secretin-producing and non-secretin-producing cells. The functions of GC-box and Sp proteins prompted us to investigate the possible involvement of DNA methylation in regulating this gene. Consistent with this idea, we found a putative CpG island (−336 to 262 from ATG) that overlaps with the human secretin gene promoter. By methylation-specific PCR, all the CpG dinucleo-tides (26 of them) within the CpG island in HuTu-80 cells are unmethylated, whereas all these sites are methylated in PANC-1 and HepG2 cells. The expressions of secretin in PANC-1 and HepG2 cells were subsequently found to be significantly activated by a demethylation agent, 5′-Aza-2′ deoxycytidine. Taken together, our data indicate that the human secretin gene is controlled by the in vivo Sp1/Sp3 ratio and the methylation status of the promoter.


2007 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 2003-2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daisuke Yamashita ◽  
Yukako Sano ◽  
Yuka Adachi ◽  
Yuma Okamoto ◽  
Hirotaka Osada ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Although ribosomal proteins (RPs) are essential cellular constituents in all living organisms, mechanisms underlying regulation of their gene expression in mammals remain unclear. We have established that 22 out of 79 human RP genes contain sequences similar to the human DREF (DNA replication-related element-binding factor; hDREF) binding sequence (hDRE) within 200-bp regions upstream of their transcriptional start sites. Electrophoretic gel mobility shift assays and chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis indicated that hDREF binds to hDRE-like sequences in the RP genes both in vitro and in vivo. In addition, transient luciferase assays revealed that hDRE-like sequences act as positive elements for RP gene transcription and cotransfection of an hDREF-expressing plasmid was found to stimulate RP gene promoter activity. Like that of hDREF, expression of RP genes is increased during the late G1 to S phases, and depletion of hDREF using short hairpin RNA-mediated knockdown decreased RP gene expression and cell proliferation in normal human fibroblasts. Knockdown of the RPS6 gene also resulted in impairment of cell proliferation. These data suggest that hDREF is an important transcription factor for cell proliferation which plays roles in cell cycle-dependent regulation of a number of RP genes.


2007 ◽  
Vol 293 (1) ◽  
pp. C64-C74 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pawel R. Kiela ◽  
Nesrin Kuscuoglu ◽  
Anna J. Midura ◽  
Monica T. Midura-Kiela ◽  
Claire B. Larmonier ◽  
...  

Sodium butyrate (NaB) stimulates sodium and water absorption by inducing colonic Na+/H+ exchange. NaB induces Na+/H+ exchanger (NHE)3 activity and protein and mRNA expression both in vivo and in vitro. Our previously published observations indicated that this induction is Ser/Thr kinase dependent and that NaB-responsive elements were localized within −320/−34 bp of the rat NHE3 promoter. Here we further delineate the mechanism of NaB-mediated NHE3 gene transcription. Transient and stable transfection of Caco-2 cells with NHE3 gene reporter constructs identified Sp binding site SpB at position −58/−55 nt as critical for NaB-mediated induction. Gel mobility shift (GMSA) and DNA affinity precipitation assays indicated NaB-induced binding of Sp3 and decreased binding of Sp1 to SpB element. While no changes in expression of Sp1 or Sp3 were noted, NaB induced phosphorylation of Sp1 and acetylation of Sp3. Sp3 was a more potent inducer of NHE3 gene transcription, which suggested that change in balance, favoring binding of Sp3 to the SpB site, would result in significant increase in NHE3 promoter activity. Small interfering RNA studies in Caco-2 cells and data from NaB-treated SL2 cells used as a reconstitution model confirmed this hypothesis. In addition to the SpB site, which played a permissive role, an upstream novel butyrate response element located at −196/−175 nt was necessary for maximal induction. GMSA identified a protein-DNA complex with a −196/−175 nt probe; this interaction was not affected by NaB treatment, thus suggesting that in response to NaB Sp3 binding to site SpB precedes and results in recruitment of the putative factor to this upstream site.


Blood ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 103 (11) ◽  
pp. 4302-4309 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guo-Ping Zhou ◽  
Clara Wong ◽  
Robert Su ◽  
Scott C. Crable ◽  
Kathleen P. Anderson ◽  
...  

Abstract Most K-Cl cotransport in the erythrocyte is attributed to potassium chloride cotransporter 1 (KCC1). K-Cl cotransport is elevated in sickle erythrocytes, and the KCC1 gene has been proposed as a modifier gene in sickle cell disease. To provide insight into our understanding of the regulation of the human KCC1 gene, we mapped the 5′ end of the KCC1 cDNA, cloned the corresponding genomic DNA, and identified the KCC1 gene promoter. The core promoter lacks a TATA box and is composed of an initiator element (InR) and a downstream promoter element (DPE), a combination found primarily in Drosophila gene promoters and rarely observed in mammalian gene promoters. Mutational analyses demonstrated that both the InR and DPE sites were critical for full promoter activity. In vitro DNase I footprinting, electrophoretic mobility shift assays, and reporter gene assays identified functional AP-2 and Sp1 sites in this region. The KCC1 promoter was transactivated by forced expression of AP-2 in heterologous cells. Sequences encoding the InR, DPE, AP-2, and Sp1 sites were 100% conserved between human and murine KCC1 genes. In vivo studies using chromatin immunoprecipitation assays with antihistone H3 and antihistone H4 antibodies demonstrated hyperacetylation of this core promoter region. (Blood. 2004;103:4302-4309)


2012 ◽  
Vol 443 (1) ◽  
pp. 153-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ning Liu ◽  
Zhanyang Yu ◽  
Shuanglin Xiang ◽  
Song Zhao ◽  
Anna Tjärnlund-Wolf ◽  
...  

Ngb (neuroglobin) has been identified as a novel endogenous neuroprotectant. However, little is known about the regulatory mechanisms of Ngb expression, especially under conditions of hypoxia. In the present study, we located the core proximal promoter of the mouse Ngb gene to a 554 bp segment, which harbours putative conserved NF-κB (nuclear factor κB)- and Egr1 (early growth-response factor 1) -binding sites. Overexpression and knockdown of transcription factors p65, p50, Egr1 or Sp1 (specificity protein 1) increased and decreased Ngb expression respectively. Experimental assessments with transfections of mutational Ngb gene promoter constructs, as well as EMSA (electrophoretic mobility-shift assay) and ChIP (chromatin immunoprecipitation) assays, demonstrated that NF-κB family members (p65, p50 and cRel), Egr1 and Sp1 bound in vitro and in vivo to the proximal promoter region of the Ngb gene. Moreover, a κB3 site was found as a pivotal cis-element responsible for hypoxia-induced Ngb promoter activity. NF-κB (p65) and Sp1 were also responsible for hypoxia-induced up-regulation of Ngb expression. Although there are no conserved HREs (hypoxia-response elements) in the promoter of the mouse Ngb gene, the results of the present study suggest that HIF-1α (hypoxia-inducible factor-1α) is also involved in hypoxia-induced Ngb up-regulation. In conclusion, we have identified that NF-κB, Egr1 and Sp1 played important roles in the regulation of basal Ngb expression via specific interactions with the mouse Ngb promoter. NF-κB, Sp1 and HIF-1α contributed to the up-regulation of mouse Ngb gene expression under hypoxic conditions.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jia Sun ◽  
Xuan Sun ◽  
Junhui Chen ◽  
Xin Liao ◽  
Yixuan He ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Exosomal microRNAs (miRs) derived from mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been shown to play roles in the pathophysiological processes of sepsis. Moreover, miR-27b is highly enriched in MSC-derived exosomes. Herein, we aimed to investigate the potential role and downstream molecular mechanism of exosomal miR-27b in sepsis. Methods Inflammation was induced in bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and mice were made septic by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). The expression pattern of miR-27b in MSC-derived exosomes was characterized using RT-qPCR, and its downstream gene was predicted by in silico analysis. The binding affinity between miR-27b, Jumonji D3 (JMJD3), or nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) was characterized to identify the underlying mechanism. We induced miR-27b overexpression or downregulation, along with silencing of JMJD3 or NF-κB to examine their effects on sepsis. The production of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 was detected by ELISA. Results miR-27b was highly expressed in MSC-derived exosomes. Mechanistic investigations showed that miR-27b targeted JMJD3. miR-27b decreased expression of pro-inflammatory genes by inhibiting the recruitment of JMJD3 and NF-κB at gene promoter region. Through this, MSC-derived exosomal miR-27b diminished production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in LPS-treated BMDMs and septic mice, which could be rescued by upregulation of JMJD3 and NF-κB. Besides, in vitro findings were reproduced by in vivo findings. Conclusion These data demonstrated that exosomal miR-27b derived from MSCs inhibited the development of sepsis by downregulating JMJD3 and inactivating the NF-κB signaling pathway.


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